The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has clarified why it cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers who arrived in Jeddah from Nigeria on Air Peace.
The Nation reports authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia cancelled the visa of the passengers who arrived Sunday, especially many who were visiting Saudi for Lesser Hajj.
The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano Sunday night and landed at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred barely one week after Air Peace launched a direct flight to Saudi Arabia.
It was gathered that it was when the Nigerian embassy waded in that Saudi authorities reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 177 from 264.
A statement by the Embassy, Monday evening explained that the passengers did not fulfil the entry conditions for the Kingdom.
It noted that the applicable rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia were not met as they submitted incorrect information.
The statement partly reads: “The passengers whom were denied entry and subsequently deported to their initial destinations didn’t fulfil the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the kingdom.
“This procedure was not limited to Nigerian citizens only, but rather to citizens of other countries.”
